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About Butte Falls bulletin. (<1994 Dec.->) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1997)
M A Y O R ’S c o r ne r At the regular Town Council meeting held May 13, Richard Nored was a guest speaker. Richard is a representative from the HGE J Architect and Engineering firm in Coos Bay, Oregon. The HGE Engineers prepared an extensive engineering study in 1993 providing Butte Falls with information about our water system and watershed. If we had gone forward then with replacing our water distribution system, we would have been able to receive a 75 percent grant from the Rural Development federal agency. (Former Farmers Home Administration where we received our sewer and past grant and loan dollars). Richard has provided Butte Falls with information as to how we could obtain a 50 percent grant and loan dollars to replace our entire water system and build a new reservoir as well. It would require us raising our water rates to meet state averages. This may be difficult for some folks, so we need to get together and figure out how to help the persons on fixed incomes and those who work seasonally. I have a few ideas for that. We will have a public meeting on June 5 at the Community Hall to discuss raising the water rates and replacement of the water system. Our budget committee has been working to meet deadlines for the proposed 1997-98 budget. We have learned that we would need to raise water sewer rates to just balance the public works section of the budget. This would be just for one year. The budget needs are for maintenance problems that need to be dealt with now. Terry Ellis has assisted Gary ( mlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Shipley with the items budgeted and now has reviewed everything to insure only essentials are included. We must discuss with our residents at the public meeting that these costs are needed to fix an old system. We do not know what will come out next year and the year after. Our water system needs to be replaced, the longer we wait, the more the costs will rise. Also, the future of potential grant dollars is uncertain. We have gone from 75% to 50% available grant dollars in four short years. We may have zero grant dollars available in the future. I have had some folks ask about getting a grant for our sewer system at the same time. It is my understanding from talking with Terry Ellis about this, that our plant has only maintenance needs currently. We can not ask for grant money to fix something that we should have been taking care of, and for which we received grant money to build. Our sewer system lines have some locations that will need to be repaired. The system lines need to be fixed, not replaced. We may be able to obtain t technical assistance grant to project actual sewer repair needs and a costs. The council also “XmcTis'^tedYnTe Commission for the Town of Butte Fall _ window of city hall. You may pickup acop^ .f interested in taking a copy home to • , n ian to attend ordinance at the Tune 5 public meeting ^Please into acquiring°tad°ne^r the Falls, we are working on that too. We are investigating the concept of town ownership of some and near the Falls for a park. We have a couple avenues to pursue. I shall keep you posted on this. Be assured that we are not forgetting your requests. At the May council meeting a high school community service project was approved. The students will restore the tennis courts, and add basketball hoops. The lights will also be fixed so that the court may be used in the forthcoming summer evenings. Thanks to these students and to the class who previously obtained approval to plant flowers in the park. The council approved my request for dollars to host the Mayor s breakfast on May 17th . Mayors of Jackson and Josephine counties meet once monthly, alternating being hosts. At the meeting I spoke with Jim Lewis,-Mayor of Jacksonville. HGE was the engineering firm who designed and oversaw the construction of their water system replacement. Jim Lewis gave a positive recommendation of HGE. Frank Falsarella, Mayor of Talent, again volunteered to spend some time helping Butte Falls set up a volunteer reserve police force. Talent, Jacksonville and several other communities have successful reserve police forces to supplement their paid police forces. The Butte Falls Volunteer Fire Department has an antique truck for sale. See separate article for bid information. Another vehicle has been donated to the fire department by Walt Wattenburger. Wendy and Dick Earl have recently purchased some safety equipment for the fire department. A special thanks to all who support our fire department. Anyone who is not able to make the June 5th public meeting, please call city hall and leave a message with Lori for me to call or visit you. We need your support, and I will be glad to personally provide you with the information necessary . Thanks in advance. /JO/lZL QPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA M o s s g r o w in g o n th e r o o f o f th e 1 9 7 3 r e s e r v o ir h a s b e g u n to d a m a g e its s u r fa c e . N o tic e r e b a r s h o w in g n e x t to q u a r te r in in s e t p h o to . L
